Ahead of his UFC 314 match against Dominick Reyes, Nikita Krylov anticipates seeing the Russian flag displayed beside his name as he enters the octagon.
The light heavyweight fighter is making his return to the Octagon after more than two years this Saturday. He noted that in his last appearance in 2023, a flag was noticeably absent from his fighter profile. Krylov discussed this during UFC 314 media day, clarifying the reasons for the uncertainty surrounding his nationality in his previous bout.
“Yes, I`ve discussed this with the UFC,” Krylov stated. “Even in the two events prior, I requested that Kislovodsk, Russia be listed as my fighting location. I`ve resided there for several years now and feel it`s an honor to represent them.”
Although Krylov formerly resided in Ukraine, he previously represented Donetsk in his fights. Donetsk is a region that came under Russian control during the ongoing conflict that began in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree claiming annexation of four regions, including Donetsk, but the area remains contested.
Krylov believes this situation caused the confusion during his last UFC fight. However, he currently lives in Russia and intends to represent Russia this Saturday.
“The reason there was no flag next to my name in recent events is because I lived in Donetsk, Ukraine, for most of my life,” Krylov explained. “Donetsk is a city whose status is still disputed; not everyone agrees on where Donetsk belongs.”
“Currently, I believe it`s appropriate for Russia to be displayed next to my name. I am proud to represent Russia.”
Despite his time away, Krylov returns to the UFC with a three-fight winning streak. His fight against Reyes, a former two-time title contender, provides an opportunity to quickly re-enter the top tier of the light heavyweight division.
Victory in this fight could position Krylov for a potential title shot. The Reyes fight is the opening match of the pay-per-view main card on Saturday.
